The all-new BMW 5 Series will boast more technology, more space and greater efficiency when it arrives in 2017

BMW’s new seventh-generation 5 Series will have innovative autonomous tech and the option of plug-in hybrid technology when it arrives in Singapore sometime next year.

The current 5 Series has been left trailing by newer rivals such as the Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class, which have gained the upper hand in refinement, technology and comfort. This all-new 5 Series looks set to change that, because it will benefit from innovations seen on BMW’s 7 Series.

Changes start at the front with new, sleeker LED headlamps integrated with the trademark kidney grille; adaptive LED lights with a 500-metre illumination range will also be available.

The surfacing is more complex than it is on the current car, with a prominent shoulder line stretching back to the tail-lights, while the bonnet shut line has been removed. Twenty one exterior paint finishes will be available, while alloy wheels will range from 17 to 20 inches in diameter.

Beneath the new body, the 5 Series also benefits from a new chassis – it’s the same basic platform used on the 7 Series but without the carbon fibre core. Nevertheless, it helps cut 70kg from the kerbweight alone. More extensive use of aluminium on the body, plus lighter brakes and alloy wheels, sheds another 30kg. The 5 Series also maintains its 50:50 weight distribution.

For the first time BMW will also launch a 530e plug-in hybrid version of the 5 Series, which will become part of the recently launched iPerformance line-up. Its powertrain will comprise a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor, which jointly develop 249bhp and 420Nm of torque. More significantly, BMW claims the 530e will also be capable of 141.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 46g/km.

The most efficient diesel model is the 520d EfficientDynamics edition, which is powered by a 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It is claimed to return up to 72.4mpg and emit just 102g/km of CO2. The standard 520d uses the same engine but is the only model with a six-speed manual gearbox, and as a result economy drops to 67.3mpg and CO2 emissions go up to 108g/km.